Dynamic Public Spaces Dynamische öffentliche Orte

Experiment with altering public space and, with the help of image processing and 3-D cameras, witness the effects. In this two-part workshop, the MIT SENSEable City Lab and the Austrian Institute of Technology will provide an introduction to theories and models of how people move, talk, and interact in public space, and how this information can lead to better design for public spaces.

Part One will provide an introduction for understanding and guiding the behavior of crowds in public space. How do people move when they become part of a crowd at airports, train stations, or at concerts? Focusing on a public square near the Lab at Pfefferberg, we’ll use traditional cameras to stream video footage of pedestrians in the square to the Lab. We’ll demonstrate how image processing can automatically detect pedestrian paths, behaviors, and group dynamics. Every hour, participants will have the opportunity to undertake “missions” to affect the activity in the square—such as rearranging street furniture to encourage pedestrians to gather at the center of the square—and use computer vision to see how successful they were.

This interactive talk is facilitated by Katja Schechtner and Stefan Seer.

Part Two: In the evening, we’ll focus on a small section of sidewalk (or a narrow street), using mounted 3-D cameras to capture pedestrian flows through the space. We’ll then experiment with changing pedestrian behavior by standing in the space, applying chalk and tape to surfaces, and placing signs and objects.

This part of the event is facilitated by Kael Greco, David Lee, Prudence Robinson and Anthony Vanky.